Landmark building is for sale

A West Bromwich landmark has gone up for sale with a price tag of nearly £800,000. And it comes as the area is undergoing an investment “renaissance”, according to Black Country property experts at Bond Wolfe, the commercial agency that is handling the sale.

Victoria House has been a part of West Bromwich High Street for more than half a century, housing a string of businesses. It is seen as a prime investment opportunity - both its ground floor retail units are fully let, with two more tenants on the two floors of recently refurbished offices above.

The building currently brings in a total rent of around £64,000 a year, which should prove tempting to potential investors.

Originally built in the 1960s, the building extends to 6,700 sq ft over its three floors and is being sold freehold by its owner, an unnamed regional investor, through West Bromwich-based Bond Wolfe. The guide price is £795,000.

Bond Wolfe managing partner James Mattin said: “For investors looking for secure income producing commercial property assets, Victoria House in West Bromwich could be an excellent addition to a portfolio or first time commercial investor purchase.

“With continued inward investment in the town, West Bromwich is seeing something of a renaissance. We have recently concluded some significant freehold sales in and around the town, and the appetite for investing locally seems to be very much on the increase.”

While the building has an almost full set of tenants, including Paul Dubberley estate agency and the multi-lingual comparison service Global Market Compare on the second floor, Mr Mattin has raised the prospect that, like a number of other office buildings across the Black Country, it could be converted into homes.

“Victoria House provides secure rental income but with the added benefit of a future residential development angle, subject to planning consent,” he said.

Victoria House has been home to a long line of occupiers since it was first built and was the original headquarters of Bond Wolfe itself when the business started up as an estate agency in the 1980s.